Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 5525: Concerning employment loss due to businesses closing or mass layoffs.

Senate Bill 5525 establishes requirements for employers in Washington state regarding business closings and mass layoffs. It mandates that employers with 50 or more employees provide 60 days' written notice to the Employment Security Department and affected employees, or their bargaining representatives, before such events. This applies to business closings or mass layoffs that result in employment loss for 50 or more employees, excluding part-time staff. The notice must include specific details, such as the expected date of employment loss and affected job titles, with certain exceptions for unforeseeable business circumstances or natural disasters.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates 60-day notice for mass layoffs, protecting workers' rights by providing advance warning of employment loss to affected employees and the Employment Security Department.95% confidence

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5562: Concerning students attending approved apprenticeship programs.

This bill allows students enrolled in approved apprenticeship programs to access the same state financial aid (Washington College Grant) as community college students, covering tuition and fees at the two-year public college rate starting in 2022-23. It requires colleges to establish policies for awarding college credits toward degrees for classroom-based "related supplemental instruction" in apprenticeships, with credits needing approval within one year of program registration. By July 2026, colleges must implement statewide systems to transfer these credits across institutions, ensuring apprenticeship coursework counts toward degrees. The policy directly affects apprenticeship program students and public/private colleges in Washington.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands state financial aid (Washington College Grant) to apprenticeship students, increasing state spending on education as a public service.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands state financial aid access for apprenticeship students and enables college credit recognition, enhancing educational access and funding for higher education pathways.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnables apprenticeship students to access financial aid for education, supporting workforce development and employment pathways through expanded training access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education Student Financial Aid Apprenticeships Workforce Development

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1181: Concerning labor standards and the Washington minimum wage act.

HB 1181 clarifies who is covered by Washington's minimum wage law by updating definitions in the Washington Minimum Wage Act. It adds specific exclusions, such as farm interns with special certificates and minor league baseball players under collective bargaining agreements, while refining definitions for terms like "family member" and "retail establishment." These changes directly affect employers and workers in defined categories, ensuring the law applies only to eligible employees. The bill does not change the current minimum wage rate but refines coverage to align with evolving workplace structures.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentAdds exclusions (e.g., minor league players under collective bargaining) from minimum wage coverage, restricting protections for specific worker categories.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Minimum Wage

Track

signed · Washington · House May 17, 2025

HB 1162: Concerning workplace violence in health care settings.

HB 1162 requires all health care settings in Washington to develop and implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan to protect their employees. These plans must address factors such as physical security, staffing patterns, employee training, and procedures for reporting violent acts. The bill mandates annual reviews and updates of these plans and requires health care settings to conduct timely investigations into every workplace violence incident. Findings from these investigations, along with incident data, must be regularly summarized and submitted to a relevant workplace committee to identify systemic causes and recommend plan modifications.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates workplace violence prevention plans for healthcare settings, directly protecting medical professionals and supporting healthcare service delivery as defined in the topic.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires healthcare safety plans, training, and investigations to protect employees from workplace violence, directly improving workplace safety protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5539: Expanding protections for workers in the state paid family and medical leave program.

SB 5539 updates Washington’s state paid family and medical leave program to improve benefit accuracy and accessibility. It adjusts maximum weekly benefits to 90% of the state average weekly wage (starting at $1,000), clarifies that postnatal leave must be designated as medical leave unless workers choose family leave, and extends maximum leave duration to 18 weeks for pregnancy-related health conditions. The bill requires employers to provide written rights statements and ensures outreach materials are available in multiple languages, directly affecting all workers enrolled in the state’s paid leave program. These changes refine existing benefit calculations and administrative procedures without expanding eligibility.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends medical leave for pregnancy-related health conditions, ensuring access to healthcare services without income loss and clarifies medical leave designations.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands paid leave benefits, increases weekly max to 90% wage, extends leave duration, clarifies medical leave - strengthens worker protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave Workers' Compensation

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1773: Creating a wage replacement program for certain Washington workers excluded from unemployment insurance.

HB 1773 creates a state-administered wage replacement program for Washington workers excluded from traditional unemployment insurance, such as gig workers, domestic workers, and others not covered by standard UI. It directly affects eligible residents who meet specific Washington residency requirements (e.g., utility bills, school enrollment, or state ID) and experienced job loss. Key provisions include establishing a dedicated wage replacement account for funding payments, requiring the state to contract a third-party administrator to process applications and disburse funds, and forming an advisory committee with worker, immigrant, and employer representation. The program aims to provide financial support during unemployment for this excluded group, with implementation required by July 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded wage replacement program with dedicated account, increasing state spending on worker benefits for excluded groups.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates state wage replacement for excluded workers (gig/domestic), expanding unemployment benefits coverage and protecting worker income during job loss.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Unemployment

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5381: Establishing department authority to ensure payment is received from the self-insured employer after a self-insured group or municipal employer has their self-insurer certification withdrawn.

SB 5381 requires the Washington Department of Labor & Industries to pay workers' compensation claims when a self-insured employer (like a business or city/municipal government) loses its certification. This applies specifically to employers whose self-insurer status is terminated by the department. The bill mandates that these former self-insurers must reimburse the department for all payments made, including compensation to injured workers, through quarterly payments. It also directs the department to create rules for managing these reimbursements and the ongoing financial obligations of decertified employers.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnsures workers' compensation payments continue when self-insurer certification is withdrawn, protecting worker benefits and mandating reimbursement from former self-insurers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing Workers' Compensation

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5792: Concerning temporary compensation reductions for state government employees during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium.

SB 5792 mandates a 4.98% temporary salary reduction for most state government employees (excluding certain roles) during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It exempts elected officials (who may voluntarily reduce salaries), employees at state universities, specialized staff (like Washington State Patrol officers), and those earning under $2,500 monthly. The bill requires agencies to use options like temporary leave (8.67 hours/month) or reduced hours if collective bargaining agreements prevent direct salary cuts, while ensuring minimum wage protections. It applies specifically to the 2025-2026 period within the broader 2025-2027 budget cycle.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill mandates 4.98% salary reduction for state employees, directly reducing government spending (core budget aspect) as a temporary cost-cutting measure.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentMandates 4.98% salary reduction for state employees, directly reducing wages and benefits, opposing labor protections and worker compensation standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending State Budget Collective Bargaining Minimum Wage

Track

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1294: Extending the pesticide application safety committee.

House Bill 1294 extends the authorization for the pesticide application safety committee in Washington state. This committee, comprising state agency officials, university experts, and legislative members, is tasked with improving pesticide application safety, particularly in agricultural settings. It aims to achieve this by exploring data collection methods, researching reasons for underreporting of pesticide exposure, and developing educational materials for agricultural workers and their communities. The bill ensures the continuation of this committee and its advisory work group to address ongoing pesticide safety concerns.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill aims to improve pesticide safety through educational materials for agricultural workers, directly advancing workplace safety standards in labor-intensive agricultural settings.85% confidence

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5600: Concerning regulation of transportation network companies during large-scale events.

This bill amends Washington state laws governing transportation network companies (like ride-hailing apps), focusing on driver classification and support systems - not event-specific regulation as the title suggests. It defines key terms (e.g., "driver platform," "dispatch platform time"), clarifies that drivers are not employees unless specific conditions are met, and establishes a "driver resource center fund" to support nonprofit organizations helping drivers with deactivation appeals. The bill directly affects drivers (through clearer protections against unfair platform restrictions) and transportation network companies (requiring them to fund the driver resource center). It does not address large-scale events, as its provisions apply to standard operations.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentClarifies drivers as independent contractors (not employees), restricting worker protections and benefits under gig economy framework.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy

Track